I’m often asked if I bring back up equipment. Short answer: Yes. Long answer: It’s good to have a strong back because photographic gear is REALLY heavy. I carry extra Quantum battery packs, and at least two digital Nikon bodies. I use a 17 – 55mm 2.8 wide angle everywhere but my favorite lens is still Nikkor’s 80-200mm 2.8. I use it all the time to get really tight shots of the bride and groom at the altar. I try to shoot over people’s shoulders and get the bride’s reaction to her groom. And I try for narrow depth of field so only the bride is in sharp focus. I have also resumed carrying a couple of light stands and strobes with shoot through umbrellas for formal group shots at the church and for extra light during the reception. It’s extra effort but it shows in the pictures.

Been out a couple of times this week doing “weather photos” for the local Bowie Blade-News. Even though my heart goes out to commuters stuck in snow for 11 hours I enjoyed shooting (quickly) during Wednesday night’s snowstorm. Got a great night shot of a snow plough bearing down on me with headlights blazing. And a good one of a couple of girls on a sled the next day. Still enjoy shooting news. In fact it’s good I still do it because it keeps my Maryland wedding photography fresh. Get in, shoot fast, get out.

Just received a nice award from WeddingWire:
Congratulations! We are excited to announce Peter Holden Photography has been chosen to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011. This award recognizes the top 5 percent of local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate quality and service excellence in the wedding industry.
I got the award because a lot of my wedding photography clients posted positive reviews of the WeddingWire site. Thank you so much for taking the time to post. January is a pretty lean month for a Maryland Wedding Photographer.

Just received a nice post from the sister of a bride whose wedding I recently photographed in Greenbelt. Under "Great Work" she wrote:Peter,
I just wanted to tell you that I thought you did an excellent job shooting my sister's wedding June 27 (Carol Shaw and Chuck Speorl) in Greenbelt.
You were so easy to work with and caught traditional moments in non-traditional ways. She couldn't have asked for better work. Thank you again.
Ellie Shaw
Nice. Thanks Ellie.

Last week I got an email from theknot saying I have been chosen for The Knot Best of Weddings 2009 as a Maryland wedding photographer. Then today their magazine arrived via UPS. There’s my name next to three stars. What a shot in the arm. Especially in this economy! Very nice. I’ll tell all my friends. And my Mum.

Testimonials

About Peter Holden

My background is photojournalism. I sold my first photograph to U.S. News & World Report in 1984. For four years I was the photo director at The World & I magazine, a publication of The Washington Times.

Photos have appreared in:
The New York Times
The Washington Times
The Washington Post